Newslinks for Friday 3rd February 2017

“Despite Brexit”: Bank of England raises its growth forecast in one of the biggest adjustments in the Bank’s history

“The Bank raised its 2017 growth forecast to 2 per cent, from 1.4 per cent, putting it on track to outpace the eurozone once again. The upgrade was one of the largest in the Bank’s history and the second since November. Last August it had slashed its 2017 growth outlook to 0.8 per cent after the referendum on leaving the EU. As well as upgrading growth, the Bank reversed its jobs forecast, saying that unemployment would be 250,000 lower than previously thought and roughly in line with its projection before the vote last June.” – The Times (£)

America, Ireland…and now Malta for May. Her third trip abroad in a week. She will reinforce Trump’s NATO message to EU leaders: meet your obligations

“The prime minister will see EU leaders in Valletta, Malta, this morning to brief them on her recent trip to the United States. Mrs May will highlight the guarantee that she secured from President Trump on his support for Nato. “She will go on to encourage other European leaders to deliver on their commitments to spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defence, so that the burden is more fairly shared,” a No 10 spokesman said. “She will say that it is only by investing properly in our defence that we can ensure we are properly equipped to face our shared challenges together.” – The Times (£)

Prime Minister pledges support for EU over Mediterranean migrant crisis – The Guardian

Malta’s Prime Minister: May in “unenviable position” over Trump – The Times (£)

The history of transatlantic financial deals suggests there’s one winner: and it’s not Britain – Ed Conway, The Times (£)

“Launching the 77-page White Paper in the House of Commons, the Brexit Secretary said the paper outlined Theresa May’s vision of “an independent and truly global United Kingdom”. The White Paper confirmed that the principle of free movement will end and new immigration rules will be “phased out”. Mr Davis called on EU leaders to behave like “good neighbours” during the negotiations. He also confirmed Britain’s strategy would be guided by the 12 principles set out by Mrs May last month.” – Daily Telegraph

Moscow churns out fake news, we must fight back on cyber, says Fallon

“Sir Michael Fallon said the UK’s enemies should know there is a ‘price to pay’ if they use hi-tech subversion against Nato members. He said Nato members were being ‘tested’ by Vladimir Putin and must compete on the cyber battlefield to counter an increase in Russian hacking attacks. In a hard-hitting speech on Russia, he also accused Moscow of ‘weaponising misinformation’ and said they were guilty of Soviet-style ‘fake news’.” – Daily Mail

Defence Secretary says Government would veto second Scotland referendum – Financial Times

Osborne: Better schools are the key to boosting the Northern Powerhouse

“Better transport links, backing science and culture, more devolution of power are all important ingredients – and the partnership will return to these issues. But in all the conversations we’ve had in the north in recent months, one challenge really stood out: education. The education system, right from the start of school to higher education, needs dramatic improvement if it is to provide the next generation with the skills, inspiration and training to fulfil their goals and build our economy.” – Daily Telegraph

New Government strategy to help the children of alcoholics pledged by Blackwood

“A Conservative minister has promised to produce a new strategy to help the children of alcoholics after she was moved to tears hearing Labour frontbencher Jon Ashworth talk about his father’s drinking. Nicola Blackwood, the public health minister, praised Ashworth for speaking out, along with Labour former minister Liam Byrne, about their experiences of growing up with an alcoholic parent. “I hope each member who has spoken today will continue to work with me as we fight to tackle this social injustice,” she said, promising to sit down with MPs to draw up a strategy for tackling the problem.” – The Guardian

When troubles come, they come not single spies. Fresh woes for Corbyn over Brexit Bill…

“Jeremy Corbyn’s team is braced for a fresh rebellion next week when MPs vote again on article 50, as tensions within Labour intensify over the leadership’s handling of Brexit. Backbench rebels, 47 of whom defied the party whip to vote against the government on Wednesday, said they expected a bigger backlash next week, especially if none of the party’s amendments are accepted. In Westminster, three members of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet have already stepped down, rather than vote in favour of triggering article 50, and further resignations could follow.” – The Guardian

I agree with Corbyn over Brexit: the pass is sold – Philip Collins, The Times (£)

…Talking of which: is Diane Abbott alive? Has anyone seen her? Send get well cards, flowers, bunches of grapes.

“Some backbenchers were circulating the ironic hashtag #PrayForDiane saying they were ‘very worried’ about her after she claimed to have a migraine. She was in Westminster all day and gave an animated speech to MPs at just before 4pm but failed to take part in a series of crucial votes in the Commons from 7pm. One furious Labour backbencher told MailOnline that ‘no-one believes she was ill’, adding at least two MPs undergoing cancer treatment had managed to vote.” – Daily Mail

Lawyer denies groping Harman when she was an articled clerk – Daily Mail

Nuttall under investigation as he admits that he has never lived in the Stoke house he claimed was a permanent residence

“The Ukip leader slept on a mattress on the floor at the home he claimed was his permanent residence on Wednesday night, after he was exposed as never having lived there. In an argument with Channel 4’s Michael Crick, the Ukip candidate was forced to admit he hadn’t even been to the house, which was previously revealed as being empty of furniture. This has lead to a police report being filed after claims the candidate has broken election rules, and calls for him to be disqualified.” – Daily Telegraph

Tim Montgomerie: The Green Belt isn’t so green. We need bits of it for homes. Build, baby, build.

“Much of the not-very-green belt is car parks, old industrial sites, heavily developed farmland and scrubland. Worse, it’s also nearly all privately owned, so the bits that actually are the right colour can’t be fully enjoyed by the public. The green belt should be renamed gold belt because land that gets planning ­permission can become up to 200 times more valuable. Theresa May could become the modern-day Queen Midas if she allowed just a small percentage of this land to become places where new family homes are built.” – The Sun

May constituency councillor removed from post after green belt plan questions – The Times (£)

Trump loosens sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies

“A notice posted on the Treasury Department website said that sanctions imposed by Mr Obama – first in 2015 and then tightened late last year amid accusations of Russian hacking of political parties – had been eased. “All transactions and activities otherwise prohibited pursuant to Executive Order 13694…as amended by EO 13757, are authorised,” says the notice. Russia’s Tass News Agency said: “US authorities have weakened the sanctions regime against the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB).” – The Independent

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